UNIVERSAL EXHIBITION OF SAINT-LOUIS 



|HV 5128 

.B4 A3 
I Copy 1 



KINGDOM OF BELGIUM 



A LCOHOLISM 



XI 



Notice on the part of Secondary Education 
in the struggle against Alcoholism 




Book $ & ^3 



2-r 






NOTICE ON THE PART 



SECONDARY EDUCATION 



STRUGGLE AGAINST ALCOHOLISM 



„ A - 

Universal Exhibition of Saint-Louis 



KINGDOM OF BELGIUM 



HOI AND PUBLIC INSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT 



ADMINISTRATION OF SECONDARY INSTRUCTION 



"7 V 



Notice on the part of Secondary Education 
in the struggle against Alcoholism 



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I. — Origin of the Scholastic struggle 
against Alcoholism. 

The abuse of spirits, and especially of 
gin, has fearfully developed during the 
second half of the last century. It has 
become the main scourge of modern 
times, scourging the towns of more vic- 
tims, than epidemics and wars together, 
killing the individuals both physically 
and morally and bringing into danger 
the welfare of society. 

In 1887, the Belgiam Government, 
feeling alarmed, and not without reason, 
about this plague raging violently in our 
country, caused a Bill on public drun- 
kenness to be passed ; this law has been 
followed by several fiscal measures all of 
which were taken with a view to reduce 
progressively the number of public houses 
or at least, to put a stop to their constant 
increase. 

This law did not fully realize its 
author's expectation, the cause being 



Alcoholism 



that legislative measures, though quick 
in punishing, are slow, if not entirely 
unable, to prevent and cure, especially 
in matters of changing the people's 
habits, in contending against deep-rooted 
abuses, which are the fruit of a long 
succession of years. If we want to attain 
the results aimed at, we must, above all, 
avail ourselves of persuasion, of. moral 
means ; and among those which are of 
a nature, one of the most efficacious is 
the influence of the School, the action 
of which, on man, is of every hour, of 
wery instant, from infancy up to man- 
hood. « It is in the great problem of edu- 
cation « says Kant » that lies the great 
secret of the improvement of mankind. » 

II. — Moralizing Mission of the School. 

The object of the school is not indeed 
only to instruct the child, and to supply 
it with sufficient knowledge to gain its 
living; this object more especially con- 
sists in forming its character, and enabling 
the pupil to triumph over the thousand 
difficulties which will arise in its way, 



Alcoholism 



to say nothing of its own passions which 
not be the least dreadful obstacles it will 
have to overcome. In a word education 
and instruction must go hand in hand. 

Convinced of this truth, the Govern- 
ment has earnestly endeavoured (imme- 
diately after the promulgation of the law 
on drunkenness) to draw the attention of 
the whole of the teaching staff on Alco- 
holism and to appeal to their co-opera- 
tion, in behalf of a question regarding 
the national welfare. 

« The abuse of Alcoholic liquors con- 
stitutes a national danger. 

» On the other hand all that tends to 
the development of the educational prin- 
ciple, or to the raising of the people's 
moral sense, belongs to the very essence 
of public instruction. » (Circular of 
August 27th 1892.) 

III. — The part of Secondary Education 
in the struggle against Alcoholism. 

If the first part of this task, — the 
most difficult and the most indispen- 
sable, — was incumbent on Primary 



A Icoholism 



Education, the social part belonging to 
the Secondary Education, as regards this 
matter, is not less important. 

It is true, this education is intended 
for the leading classes of society. But, 
alas ! it is a secret to nobody, that those 
leading classes themselves pay their 
tribute to the minotaur of Alcoholism. 
The army, bar, business, administra- 
tions also submit to its laws. The middle- 
class above all, make an exaggerated 
consumption of Alcohol ; there are no 
commercial transactions whatever, no 
public meetings, no popular feasts, no 
manifestations of political life, but are a 
pretext for immoderate libations of strong 
drinks. 

The result is that there is a centre of 
ruin too, against which we ought to 
struggle. Consequently, it is necessary 
to draw the attention of those attending 
the Secondary School, on the disastrous 
effects of the plague, so much the more 
as they are called in after life to fill 
a high place and to exercise a great 
influence on the working classes. 



Alcoholism 



IV. — Anti-Alcoholic Conferences. 
A. — Institution. 

Asked for their advice as to the 
usefulness of the Government organising 
Conferences on Alcoholism, and esta- 
blishing Temperance Clubs, in the Athe- 
naeums and Secondary Schools, as it had 
been done in the Normal and Primary 
Schools, the Board of Inspections for 
Secondary Education, concluded their 
report as follows : 

« We are of opinion, that the only 
measure which is to be taken for the 
present, is to have the professors of 
natural science, at the Athenaeums and 
Secondary Schools, deliver conferences 
on Alcoholism and its consequences. 

» The subjects for these Conferences 
or conversations might to a large extent 
from the important points which you 
point out to the lecturers in your Des- 
patch of April 23d 1892, be addressed 
to the Headmasters of the Training 
Schools. 

» As for the temperance Clubs, we 



A Icoholism 



do not think it advantageous to institute 
them now in the Athenaeums. We are 
of opinion that it would be advisable not 
to create them until the Conferences 
have proved successful. » 

In consequence of an opinion expres- 
sed by the Board of Improvement of 
Secondary Education, the Ministerial 
Circular of August 27th 1892 requested 
the teaching staff of the Athenamms and 
Secondary Schools to deliberate on the 
most practical manner in which the anti- 
Alcoholic conferences might be organi- 
sed. The teaching body was at the same 
time to decide on the question regarding 
the establishment of Temperance Clubs 
and to examine whether such an institu- 
tion had any chance of success in the 
establishments for Secondary Education. 

The Professoral body answered to the 
Government's appeal. In the establish- 
ments the idea of delivering Conferences 
on Alcoholism to the pupils met with 
eager approval ; but the accord was far 
from being so unanimous as regards the 
organisations of temperance Clubs : they 



Alcoholism 



foresaw an opposition the principal wea- 
pon of which would be : mockery. 

According to the Circular of De- 
cember 19th 1892, the Minister for the 
Home and Public Instruction depart- 
ment, instituted anti-Alcoholic Confe- 
rences, and authorised the establishments 
which had made such a proposal to try 
temperance Clubs on the model of those 
established in the Primary Schools, 
letting each establishment free to modify 
them at will. Page 12 (petit livre). Per- 
haps latitude to the Prefects and Direc- 
tors might be allowed under this last 
clause. 

Alcoholic Liquors. — Beer, wine and 
Gin. — Alcoholic richness of the prin- 
cipal drinks. — Physiological action of 
Alcohol ; effects of the abuse of strong 
liquors ; Alcoholism. Industrial Alco- 
hols; their intoxicating effects at diffe- 
rent degrees. Means of combatting Alco- 
holism-Temperance Clubs ; their success 
in England, Germany, United-States, etc. 
The struggle against Alcoholism in Bel- 
gium. Part of the School. Refutation of 



A Icoholism 



false arguments in favour of the mode- 
rate use of spirits. As early as the Scho- 
lastic Year 1 892-1 893, conferences or 
lectures were delivered in all the Athe- 
naeums with the exception of those of 
Louvain, Bruges and Verviers, which in 
their turn waited for an opportunity to 
organise them. Likewise in the Secon- 
dary Schools for Boys and Girls, with 
the exception of the Girls' Schools at 
Nieuport — and the Boys' School at 
Beaumont. In the latter there existed a 
so-called « Patronage » the programme 
of which included discourses of this kind. 
As for the Temperance Clubs they were 
only organised in a very few establish- 
ments. 

In a report of November 20th 1893, 
the Board of Inspection ascertained that 
conferences had been held everywhere, 
and the Authorities rejoiced at the 
pupils' attention. « These Conferences » 
thus says the report « seem mostly to 
interest all the pupils, and the latters 
attitude makes one believe that they 
produce on them a strong impression, 



A Icoholism 13 

and that they are very likely to 
prove most useful to them in the 
future . » 



B. — Organisation. 

Thus, the action which Secondary 
Education could exercise in the way of 
the people's moral improvement, was 
sufficiently marked. 

One year's experience had been suffi- 
cient to prove that the Government could 
not find any stronger aid in the struggle 
against Alcoholism. 

Now that the ground was prepared, 
the materials gathered, the latter were 
to be arranged and co-ordinated, so as to 
form together a complete and methodical 
method, adoptable, provisionally, at 
least in all the establishments. 

That is the reason why the decision of 
the Minister, dated March 9th 1894, 
quite agreed with the following opinions 
of the Board of Improvement : 

« It is highly desirable that the Anti- 



j-./ Alcoholism 



Alcoholic Conferences, continue to be 
delivered regularly. 

» In order to have them yield all 
their fruits, it is advisable to leave their 
organisation to the free initiative of the 
headmaster, who can best judge of the 
local conveniences ; and to want them 
uniform as regards their number, dura- 
tion, lecturers and auditors would be 
bringing the success into danger. 

» It will be sufficient to fix a mini- 
mum number of conferences, which 
should not be lower than three per 
scholastic year. 

» As for the Temperance Clubs, it 
seems that there is no reason for them to 
continue being created. 

» The Board recommended moreover 
the spread of valuable anti-alcoholic 
treatises amongst others the excellent 
work of M r Jules Denis « Manuel de 
Temperance ». 

» The professors intrusted with the 
conferences would find there precious 
indications, and the pupils themselves a 
most interesting reading. » 



Alcoholism is 



C. — Character. 

Nevertheless, it was to be seen from 
the reports handed in to the Government 
at the end of the Scholastic Year 1-894- 
95 by all the headmasters, on the execu- 
tion and results of those measures, that 
in more than one establishment, had 
gone beyond the purpose of the organi- 
sation of Conferences. 

The word conference has often been 
interpreted in the meaning of solemn 
allocution, though there was only a 
question of a simple « talk » and practi- 
cal advices. They went even so far as to 
impose on the pupils complementary 
tasks on Alcoholism, and to have the 
conferences delivered on holidays. 

In certain establishments, they even 
wanted to make a show of zeal by deli- 
vering a great many conferences, nay, 
even one a week. Several times also, 
the Conferences presented a too scien- 
tific character and constituted a complete 
course in Alcoholism. 

Lastly, they noticed that the unity of 



1 6 Alcoholism 



action was no longer existing as each 
headmaster used his own discretion in 
interpreting the ministerial instructions 
which had instituted the Conferences. 

That is the reason why the Board of 
Improvement, after a four years expe- 
rience, thought it advisable to establish 
fixed and precise rules applicable to all 
the establishments. Thus, they formu- 
lated propositions in this sense, notice of 
which was given to the headmasters 
through a Circular of May 13th 1896 
as follows : 

i° The professors must avail them- 
selves of every opportunity for com- 
batting Alcoholism. These opportunities 
will present themselves not only in the 
course of Hygiene, but also in the 
courses of Natural Science, History. 
French or Flemish, and even in the 
course of Mathematics. 

2 The number of Conferences, to be 
limited to three per annum, by prefe- 
rence to be delivered, towards the holi- 
days. They might be given during the 



Alcoholism ij 



hours devoted to the stud) 7 of Hygiene, 
and confided a general rule, to the 
professor charged with this teaching. 

In order more particularly to draw 
the pupils attention to the importance of 
Anti- Alcoholism, it would be convenient 
to deliver these conferences as much as 
possible, to all the pupils together, but 
in the case of there not being sufficient 
room for this, the headmaster should 
divide the pupils into groups, and for 
each group to organize two or three 
conferences. 

On the day of the conference, the 
pupils should have no task to do, but 
they only ought to summarise the 
Conference, and to hand in their sum- 
mary to the Master. Those who did this 
task the best would be granted by way 
of reward some Anti-alcoholic treatise. 
For here it is the question of rewarding 
the good will of a few pupils, and to 
excite others without any compul- 
sion. 

The character of the Conference 
should be that of a simple and practical 



Alcoholism 



« talk », within the reach of everybody's 
intelligence. 

The professor should show pictures 
which represent the disastrous effects of 
Alcohol on the human frame, as do those 
of Mr Revilliod and Binet. 

These pictures should be produced 
only during the Conference, and should 
not be always exposed in the school 
room. 

3° The temperance Clubs should sub- 
sist where established (i) but there is no 
necessity for imposing them. 



(t) Ai the end of the scholastic year 1895-99 six 
temperance clubs were organised in the establish- 
ments for Secondary Education. 

i° At the Mons royal Athenaeum a club of this kind 
exists, since the 20th of February 1898. Founded on 
the pupils initiative, it has 5; members all of whom 
bind themselves, on their honour, to abstain from 
alcohol for one year. The sum total of pupils atten- 
ding the Athenaeum is 400. 

2 At Blankenberghe. The club has g5 members, 
amongst whom are a great many pupils attending 
the State Secondary School for boys, the sum total 
of such pupils amounts to 5i. 

3° At the State Secondary School for boys at 
Ciney, the club exists since 1894. Out of 42 pupils, 
33 are members. 

4 At Maeseyck, it has been founded since 



Alcoholism ig 



D. — Results. 

From the reports handed in to the 
Government by the headmasters, on the 
execution and results of the preceding 
instructions, it is to be seen that the 
Anti-Alcoholic teaching is seriously 
organised in all the establishments for 
Secondary Education of the country. 
Thanks to the generous efforts of the 
teaching staff, to their self-devotion and 
their patriotic sentiments, the success of 



January 16th 1893. It has 216 members, 62 out of 60 
being the pupils of the State Secondary School. 

These instructions were confirmed by a Ministerial 
Circular of September 21st 1S98. 

The Government added thereto a new recom- 
mendation ; the headmasters were requested to pro- 
vide the pupils libraries with books treating on Alco- 
holism, and to distribute as prizes, at the end of the 
scholastic year, works of this nature. 

Thus the Government sought to fecundate through 
the reading, the ideas sown by the masters during 
their conferences. 

5° At Spa. The club dates from 1893. It has 
181 members, out of 68 boys 38 are pupils of the 
State Secondary School. 

6° At Iseghem, the club consists of 110 members, 
of whom 16 are pupils of the Patronised Secondary 
School. 



A Ico holism 



the struggle against Alcoholism is hence- 
forth assured in the establishments for 
Secondary Education, and has even pro- 
duced appreciable results. For, in several 
Athenaeums, pupils of the higher forms 
themselves give Anti-Alcoholic confe- 
rences to their fellow pupils of the lower 
forms; and the reports of the head- 
masters state that these young lecturers 
deliver their thesis with a facility and 
conviction which are worthy of the cause 
that they are champions of. These lec- 
tures of the pupils, says one of our 
reports, constitute perhaps, among the 
different means used for combatting 
alcoholism, the one which is called to 
be the most successful. 

Therefore, the Government has fully 
approved of this special manner of Anti- 
Alcoholic teaching, and has expressed 
the desire to see it introduced into all 
the royal Athenaeums. The pupils who 
lecture, says the Ministerial circular dated 
December 23 rd 1901, at the same time 
as they affirm their convictions, acquire 
a better knowledge of this social question, 



Alcoholism 



exercise themselves in the art of elo- 
quence and learn to express their ideas 
correctly. 

V. — Free Government Competitions. 

A. — Competitions for the making 
of a hand-book of lectures. 

To guarantee the uniformity of the 
Conferences, to maintain the union of 
opinion and action, and to provide the 
part of the school in the struggle against 
Alcoholism with the cohesion which is 
indispensable to its prosperity, a Royal 
decree May 22th 1896 put up for com- 
petition the composition of a hand-book 
of Conferences, which should be neither 
too scientific nor too technical. The lat- 
ter was to contain, above all, moral and 
practical considerations of a nature to 
contribute to put a stop to the progress 
of Alcoholism. 

The author of the manuscript, chosen 
by the Government on the advice of the 
Board of Improvement of Secondary 
Education, would be awarded 500 francs. 



A Icoholism 



Twenty four competitors took in this 
pacific contest, and, on the conformable 
conclusions of the Examining Board, the 
Government awarded one half of the 
prize to Mr J. Hanus, professor at the 
Mechlin Royal Athenaeum, and the other 
half to Mr Melchior Mien, cantonal 
inspector of primary education, at 
Hasselt. 

The Government sent a copy of these 
works to all the establishments for 
Secondary Education, and requested 
them to be minutely reviewed at a Con- 
ference. The teaching staff in one of 
their meetings were to decide on the 
best practical measures for combatting 
Alcoholism in their establishment. (Cir- 
cular of May 28th 1898.) 

Besides it was not the first time that 
the Government put into movement the 
reglementary meetings of the teaching 
staff. 

As early as 1892 (Ministerial Circular 
of November 22th) it had wanted the 
masters to examine a pamphlet which it 
had caused to be published, on the 



Alcoholism 23 



co-operation of the establishments for 
primary Education in the struggle against 
Alcoholism . 

B. — Competitions for the designing 
of anti- alcoholic pictures. 

In the Anti-Alcoholic Conferences, 
the masters should not content them- 
selves with speaking to the minds and 
hearts of the children. 

Their word would only then be really- 
living produce all its effects if the pupils' 
eyes are strongty impressed. 

In order to attain this purpose, pic- 
tures were necessary. The pupils were 
to be shown the organs of alcoholized 
persons, and scenes of drunkenness, 
the same organs of a healthy man, and 
inner family-scenes where temperance 
is practised. This was an infallible means 
to inspire a great aversion for Alcoho- 
lism, and an efficacious fear for its 
disastrous effects. 

A Royal Decree of October 2 4th 1898, 
put up for competition the execution of 



2± Alcoholism 



such pictures, adapted to the habits of 
our country. The author of the best work 
would be awarded a prize of iooo francs. 
This work would remain the property 
of the State ; but it would be reproduced 
in chromo-lithography through the care 
and for the benefit of the artist. 

The Examining Board, appointed by 
the Ministerial Decree (December 15th 
1898) awarded the prize of 1000 francs 
to Mr Gailliard, artist-painter at Brus- 
sels (1). 

VIT. — Action and Example 
in the struggle against Alcoholism. 

But the theoretical teaching does not 
suffice if not supported by action and 
example. It is necessary, above all, to 
get the pupils to practise temperance. 

As early as 1892, a great many 
headmasters had expressed the desire to 
see re-established in the inner regula- 
tions, the forbiddance for the pupils to 



(1) The prize-work is composed of 8 anatomical 
figures and- of 12 vignettes. 



Alcoholism 



frequent public houses if not accompa- 
nied by their parents. 

The Government thought ^itself not 
bound to accede to this desire ; the 
reason being that the restriction relative 
to the parents, made the pupils imagine 
that the frequentation of ale-houses 
became a very lawful thing if accompa- 
nied by their parents, so it is desirable 
that the parents themselves give the 
good example. 

However by its Circular of May 8th 
1893, the Government virtually inter- 
dicts and exacts the vigorous observation 
of such a practice. 

This decision was recognised and 
confirmed by the Royal Decree of 
December 29th 1899. For not only the 
interest of good order and of the studies 
was engaged, but the very success of 
the measures proposed for combatting 
alcoholism 

The Circular of November 4th 1898 
is more explicit and more complete : 

i° It requires the pupils to observe 
more strictly the defence of frequenting 



26 Alcoholism 



the public-houses and cafes. It expressly 
forbids them to be seen there if not 
accompanied by their parents. 

2° Some pupils lodge or board in ale- 
houses. It is the headmasters duty to 
point out to the parents of those pupils 
the disadvantages resulting from such a 
situation, and to persuade them to give 
the preference to private houses. 

3° Their attention is also drawn to the 
danger which presents itself for children 
and youths, viz : the use of tobacco. 
The pupils are to be cautioned against 
this danger, at every opportunity : thus, 
it is highly recommendable to make 
them know the observations of hygienists 
on this object, to persuade them to 
abstain from smoking, to make them 
understand, at least, that smoking in the 
streets, is for youths of their age, against 
the rules of good breeding. 

One of the most efficacious means to 
combat Alcoholism is the masters tem- 
perance. The bad example coming from 
them, will exercise fatally on the pupils a 
disastrous influence. 



A Icoholism 2 7 



In this respect, the Ministerial Cir- 
cular of September 21st 1898 spares 
neither advices nor warnings. All the 
members to the teaching staff to avoid 
the regular frequentation of the public 
house. And the Minister has decided 
to be merciless to those addicted to 
drunkenness. 

All the aforesaid recommendations are 
again mentioned in the Ministerial Cir- 
cular of January 19th 1899. The latter 
goes even further for it applies to all the 
members of the teaching staff the 
defence, already made to the pupils to 
lodge and board at an ale house. It 
even forbids them to dwell in houses the 
ground floor of which is used as a bar. 
Lastly, the Ministerial Circular of 
December 22th 1899 again draws the 
attention of all the head masters to the 
preceding instruction. 

VIII. — Part of the Teachiag Body outside 
the School. 

The action which the teaching staff 
is to exercise in the struggle against 



A Icoholism 



Alcoholism, must not be limited either 
to the lesson or to the school, it aught 
to go beyond. According to te instruc- 
tions of September 21st 1898 it must be 
constant and the same. The truth is 
that Ignorance is one of the principal 
causes of Alcoholic abuses. This igno- 
rance has given rise to prejudices favou- 
ring the uses of spirits and caused them 
to be spread. It is of importance to do 
away with those errors, to make the 
people know the physiological effects and 
the social consequences produced by 
Alcoholism as well. That is the reason 
why the Ministerial Circular of Septem- 
ber 21st 1898, confirmed by that of 
January 1 9st 1899, invites the masters to 
give their assistance to all the measures 
intended to combat the plague. Those 
among them who possess the gift of 
speech or who can use the pen, should 
avail themselves of every opportunity for 
speaking or writing against Alcoholism. 
By means of Conferences delivered in 
public, by articles put in Magazines or 
papers, they should actively contribute 



Alcoholism 29 



towards a work of high moralization and 
of public interest. Their honour com- 
mands all the professors not to be indif- 
ferent, as the work to be done, belongs 
to all and not to a few. 

IX. — Conclusion. 

In a word, the Government has done 
its utmost in order to combat Alcoholism, 
in the Schools for Secondary Education . 

From this point of view we are 
allowed to say that Belgium is the first 
of all the nations. « It is in Belgium » 
said Mr Rau, advocate general, at the 
Court of Cassation of France, « that the 
idea of the struggle against Alcoholism 
through the school, has received the 
greatest development. » 

The Athenaeums and Secondar} r 
Schools are nurseries where every year 
legions of young temperants come from. 
Bands of Hope who bring to the public 
authorities the aid of a real conviction 
which they have drawn from their mas- 
ters teaching. 



Alcoholism 



The Temperance flag cannot find 
better defenders than those Bands who 
are really the hope of family and 
country. 






¥ 



BfirssELS. — Printed bt Poi^eums and Ceuterick. 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS^! 

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